Change in Leadership

Faculty, Staff and Students of UHD –

Today, I write to inform you of a change in leadership at the University of Houston-Downtown. Dr. William Flores will no longer be serving as President. He will continue to be a tenured faculty member of the University. We are committed to the success of UHD and will provide all the support necessary to continue your valuable work.

I have named Dr. Michael A. Olivas as interim president, effective today. Dr. Olivas is the William B. Bates Distinguished Chair in Law at the UH Law Center and Director of the Institute for Higher Education Law and Governance at the University of Houston. He has also served as Associate Dean of the Law Center. Dr. Olivas has published extensively about immigration, higher education and the U.S. Supreme Court and is considered an expert in those areas. His life’s work, including his many leadership roles, reflects his commitment to promoting access to higher education. You can learn more about Dr. Olivas here: https://www.law.uh.edu/faculty/main.asp?PID=31.

A national search for the president of UHD will begin immediately. I have asked President William Staples from the University of Houston-Clear Lake to chair this search.

I appreciate all your efforts in making UHD a premier university in the city of Houston, where all students are engaged in high-impact educational experiences and graduate with 21st century skills.